Home Counties Premier League: Chesham still looking for an elusive away win as Amersham drop into relegation spots

The

have not won away from the Meadow all summer, five defeats and one draw plus one abandoned fixture, and this most recent loss leaves them in seventh position in the league table.

Thame won the coin toss and elected to field first at Church Meadow, with the visitors making 128 runs all out in 34.2 overs.

Number six

was the leading runs scorer with 70 from 74 balls with eight boundaries and two maximum hits. It is his third half-century of the summer and gives him a new average of 36.17.

Faisal Ali led the Thame bowling attack with his figures of 5-36 from 14 overs, which included the wickets of Robin Pritchard and Jason Rance for a duck. It is the third time he has taken five wickets of more in a match this season and the 10th time in his career, leaving him with a new average for the campaign at 16.02.

Thame managed 130-1 in response from 24.5 overs for a ninth win in 14 league matches and remain at the top of the table.

Opening batsman Oliver Ebsworth-Burland carried his bat through for an unbeaten 74 runs from 73 balls with 11 boundaries and a maximum blow. It is his third half-century of the summer for a new average of 42.60.

Captain and fellow opener Michael Beard made 22 from 47 balls and the pair put on 82 runs for the first wicket.

Samiullah Sajid was the only Chesham bowler to take a wicket in his figures of 1-48 from 6.5 overs.

Chesham will continue in their bid for a first win on the road when travelling to Oxford Downs this Saturday (11am start).

Amersham dropped into the two relegation spots following their losing draw at home to Oxford Downs last weekend.

The home side won the coin toss and elected to field first at Shardeloes, with Oxford reaching 189-8 in 57 overs.

Number eight Richard Sillars was the leading runs scorer with 75 from 68 balls, including eight boundaries and three maximum hits. It is the 10th half-century of his career and the third this season for a new average this summer of 57.00.

Sillars and number seven Curtly Slatter (15) put on 54 runs for the seventh wicket, before an eighth-wicket stand of 80 between Sillars and Tom Costley (41*).

Samuel Helm was the pick of the Amersham bowling attack with his figures of 4-79 from 23 overs, which included the wickets of both Will Watts and Frankie Crouch for a duck.

Helm was ably supported by Maduka Liyanapathiranage who took 3-62 from 28 overs.

The hosts managed 138-6 from 41 overs in response for a draw that leaves them three points from safety with four matches still to play this season.

Opening batsman Robert Viney carried his bat through for an unbeaten 55 runs from 109 balls with nine boundaries. It is his third half-century of the campaign and gives him a new average of 29.73.

Viney and number eight Graham Rance (22*) remained unbeaten at the crease with a partnership worth 53 runs.

Lawrence Brock led the Oxford Downs bowling attack with his figures of 3-38 from 12 overs.